I hadn't known that Ireland was neutral during WW2. Overall, the story was very engaging and interesting. I understood the reason behind it, but I felt it was a bit too much. I understand that the narrator was telling the story as a memoir, but it took a while to understand who he was telling his story to, and to weave together all of the fragments later on. I wanted to give it 4 stars, but the beginning drove me crazy with all of the foreshadowing and foretelling. I'm sticking with a solid 3 1/2 stars on this one. New York Times bestselling author Frank Delaney has written a lush and surprising novel, rich as myth, tense as a thriller, and like all grand tales-harrowing, sometimes hilarious, and heartbreaking. Steeped in colorful history, The Matchmaker of Kenmare is a stirring story of friendship and sacrifice.
As they are drawn more deeply and painfully into the conflict, both discover the perils of neutrality-in both love and war. Under the cover of their neutrality as Irish citizens, Miss Begley and Ben travel to London and effectively operate as spies. Miller needs a favor, but it will be dangerous.
Miss Begley is determined to see that Ben moves through his grief-and a powerful friendship is forged along the way.īut when Charles Miller, a striking American military intelligence officer, arrives on the scene, Miss Begley develops an intense infatuation and looks to make a match for herself. Searching for purpose by collecting stories for the Irish Folklore Commission, he travels to a remote seaside cottage to profile the aforementioned Matchmaker of Kenmare.īen is immediately captivated by the forthright Miss Begley, who is remarkably self-assured in her instincts but provincial in her experience.
“And there’s a legend-she had only vague details-that all couples who are meant to marry are connected by an invisible silver cord which is wrapped around their ankles at birth, and in time the matchmaking gods pull those cords tighter and tighter and draw the couple slowly toward one another until they meet.” So says Miss Kate Begley, Matchmaker of Kenmare, the enigmatic woman Ben MacCarthy meets in the summer of 1943.Īs World War II rages on, Ben remains haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his wife, the actress Venetia Kelly.
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